101713-MME-Jazz Ensemble I Art? Yes Column Inches: 15.42 Headline: The 12.

0 Jazz Ensemble Performs its Second Concert of the Semester BY Misty Ernest The Parthenon The School of Music and Theatre presented the Jazz Ensemble I concert Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. in Smith Music Hall. The Jazz Ensemble I is one of the two large jazz ensembles in the school of music and theatre at Marshall University. The other one is the Jazz Ensemble II, or 12.1 ensemble. The Jazz Ensemble I is also known as the 12 oclock, or 12.0, Jazz Ensemble because they meet at noon. This group is assembled by audition and is conducted by Dr. Martin Saunders, who is also the Director of Jazz Studies, said Jeffrey Wolfe, professor of jazz studies and music technology, and director of the Jazz Ensemble II. The ensemble features students of Marshall University and includes the instruments alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, guitar, piano, bass, drums and vibes/aux. The pieces performed were Elvins Mambo by Bob Mintzer, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square by Eric Maschwitz and Manning Sherwin, arranged by Frank Mantooth, 33 West by Joseph Henson, Eeyore by Regan Brough, Prelude to a Kiss by Duke Ellington, arranged by Allen Carter and From Around Here by Alan Baylock. Each piece presented a number of solos from the members in the ensemble.

Craig Burletic led the ensemble in Eeyore with his bass. Saunders described the piece as an interesting animal because it has its own groove, much like the character Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. Another piece that featured a solo artist was the arrangement of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. The song introduced the bass trombone, which is an instrument not commonly featured in the 12.0 Jazz Ensemble. Alex Cardwell began the piece with the lowerpitched notes of the instrument and continued to be the prominent attraction throughout the song. The concluding performance From Around Here featured Wolfe on the trumpet. During this performance Saunders accompanied him on his trumpet, and the two did a back and forth execution of the piece. This individual performance, as well as the concert as a whole, got a big reaction out of the crowd. Brett Hood, a freshman at Marshall University, said his favorite piece was Eeyore. It was almost like experimental jazz and it sounded a lot different than the other pieces, said Hood. I wasnt sure what to except, honestly, but everyone played well together. It was everything I would look for in a jazz show. Brandon Zimmer, a freshman majoring in safety engineering technology, said his favorite part of the performance was during From Around Here when the two directors battled each other.

I like trumpet the most, so thats why it was my favorite, said Zimmer. I thought the performance overall was pretty great. It was my first jazz concert and I really liked it. This was the 12.0 Jazz Ensembles second concert of the semester. There are four concerts total. The next performance will be a special Veterans Day concert Nov. 11 at Smith Music Hall at 8 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Misty Ernest can be contacted at ernest9@marshall.edu.